HARARE, Jan. 7 (NewsDay Live) – Harare’s central business district was brought to a standstill on Tuesday as American YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr, popularly known as IShowSpeed, made a high-profile appearance in the city during his ongoing Africa tour.
The tour, dubbed Speed Does Africa, is covering 20 African countries in 28 days.
IShowSpeed, who arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday night, attracted massive crowds as he moved through the CBD, with many abandoning their workstations to catch a glimpse of the global internet sensation.
Traffic slowed to a crawl as pedestrians flooded the streets, filming and cheering as he passed.
Security was tight, with bouncers and police officers forming barricades around the influencer. Journalists and local content creators were denied access when he stopped at the Mbuya Nehanda statue, where large crowds had gathered.
He was escorted by a convoy of luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons owned by high-profile local figures.
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Bulls to charge into Zimbabwe gold stocks
- Ndiraya concerned as goals dry up
- Letters: How solar power is transforming African farms
Keep Reading
After touring the city centre, IShowSpeed visited a local restaurant before proceeding to the Trabablas Interchange, another hotspot that drew large crowds.
The Zimbabwe leg of the tour follows visits to South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana, where he also generated widespread public interest.
Videos of his Harare visit have since gone viral, trending across multiple social media platforms.
He was accompanied by local socialites, including Chief Ben and Cordy the Rank Marshal.
